Unite members were recently on strike over pay at the government quango over delays in addressing the Gender Pay Gap identified in the HCA’s own report, pay disparities arising from haphazard salary setting, and the continued trend of below inflation pay settlements...

Union members at Torus Group have accepted an increase of 3.1% in 2018/19 following rejection of the initial offer of two per cent for 2018/19. The initial offer was rejected, and members voted for strike action. Housing associations continue to squeeze pay and conditions in the sector despite record surpluses...

Over fifty “Peabody Direct” call centre staff based at Waterloo, have been warned that their jobs are to be transferred from March 2019 to ex-Family Mosaic offices in Pitsea, Essex. Staff have been angered by comments made by Chief Executive Brendan Sarsfield that they believe show he does not understand their role...

"At least 250,000 people took to the streets of London and in towns and cities across the country last week to make clear that the racist, mysogynist, xenophobic global bully Trump is not welcome here. The next day the so-called Football Lads Alliance (FLA) arrived on our doorstep, staging a demonstration in Whitehall which they claim was against extremism, but was a smokescreen for Islamophobia..."

Addressing the fifth policy conference of the union in Brighton, Unite’s general secretary Len McCluskey said that the union wins for workers because it has the courage to take on concentrated power, and that it offers hope of an alternative...

Unite members at the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) have overwhelmingly voted for strike action in protest at years of real-terms pay cuts and pay inequality. The organisation is home to the Regulator of Social Housing and Homes England brands, and Unite is the largest of three recognised trade unions...

Over 200 staff at Catalyst Housing have submitted a grievance to the board of the association objecting to a harsh and possibly discriminatory new sickness absence policy which was introduced without consultation...

Using new data regulations as an opportunity to negotiate better conditions

Lawyers from the Public Interest Law Unit (Pilu) have lodged a complaint with the Charity Commission and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) about the conduct of the homeless charity St Mungo’s when it accompanied Home Office immigration, compliance and enforcement (ICE) teams on these patrols until December...

...The database allows us to trace witnesses who may be able to support legal claims for other members who have developed an asbestos related disease...

...workers overwhelmingly rejected a below inflation pay offer of 1.5 per cent for 2017/18 and two per cent for 2018/19, in a consultative ballot, despite this management refused to enter into negotiations and dismissed union concerns and instead imposed the pay increase on workers...

"...Of 180 associations polled, just 31 responded – half the number that responded last year. The reported increase was a mere 1.6%. Just 29% of housing association apprentices were women. Disturbingly, ethnic monitoring was incomplete..."

...Unfortunately Unite reps have been reporting that, with honourable exceptions, management in the sector has become less willing to engage on equalities issues in recent years. We hope that will change as the new figures are discussed...

“...Homelessness Minister Heather Wheeler recently announced: “I don’t know why rough sleeper numbers are up.” But she was apparently clear that they were not connected with council or welfare cuts. In a radio interview her boss, Savid Javid, made the startling admission – from a Tory minister – that benefit cuts ‘may well’ have led to an increase in rough sleeping...”

Recommendations by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) including outlawing non-disclosure agreements being implemented to prevent workers complaining of sexual harassment unless initiated by the employee making the complaint have been welcomed as a step forward by Unite...

A number of employers on the social housing sector have embraced the idea of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) in recent years. The government has recently announced a £15 million programme with the aim of seeing up to 1 million people trained in basic mental health “first aid” skills...

In a TV programme screening tonight Tory MP Adam Holloway spends a week sleeping rough in London. His written report on The Daily Telegraph website gives some insights into what it is like sleeping rough but avoids the causes and ducks the fact that number of rough sleepers are rapidly increasing – up 15% over the last year making a shameful 169% increase since 2010...

Our highly successful AGM on Tuesday heard from our officer Adam Lambert that we have experienced a marked increase in the number of reps elected across the branch and positive reports of many aspects of our work...

Last week saw blizzards and freezing temperatures engulf the UK. For most of us this meant a missed train, a day off work or at worst an embarrassing fall on the pavement. This has placed further focus on the rising problem of rough sleeping as for the homeless even one night of below zero temperatures can be fatal...

I joined my union 40 years ago when I started my first proper job at William Hill, and with it my working world opened up. My union helped me find my voice. It helped me unlock new skills in myself and bring out the best in others. I was elected as a shop steward when I moved to gas company BOC aged 19, and my union helped me to not only find my voice but also to give a voice to others...

Unite reps at ‘Homes England’ said that the gender pay gap of 18.4% was sadly unsurprising but unacceptable. The new government agency, which replaced the ‘Homes and Communities Agency’ in January, published its first gender pay gapreport...

Homelessness charity St Mungos is once again under scrutiny over its role in working with the Home Office in targeting rough sleepers for deportation. An article on The Guardian website today reports that [St Mungos] "has worked with Home Office patrols as they go out on the streets in search of rough sleepers deemed to be in the UK illegally to arrest and deport.”

"...I grew up feeling equal, my father told me I could achieve anything I wanted to, he didn’t treat me any differently academically because I was a girl, my education was sound and from Maya Angelou, and heroines before her, I learnt the art of being engaging.What if it’s not just about being black, female or uneducated?.."

News that the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has confirmed it will end all directing training by 2020, will create a skills black hole and strip the industry of the capability to undertake specialist training...

Unite has renewed its demands for radical action to be taken to tackle the deepening skills crisis facing the construction industry. Unite made its call following the publication of this week’s Construction Industry Training Board’s (CITB) annual skills report...

Branch members in many workplaces are taking action on a range of equalities issues and responding to Inside Housing magazine's 'Inclusive Futures' initiative. The Unite National Officer for equalities writes on the unions conferences this week...

The Unite housing workers branch has responded to Labour’s consultation on social housing policy by calling for a commitment to a mass programme of council house building, an end to deregulation and financialisation of housing associations, and more resources to address the homelessness emergency along with sustainable funding for supported housing...

... Inside Housing has launched a major campaign promoting ‘diversity and inclusion’ following research showing the social housing sector failing to progress. The magazine highlights that a majority of the sectors leadership remains white and male. Unite reps who have been battling against a range of management initiatives that weaken equality and diversity will welcome the initiative if increased attention results in action...

Unite helps migrant workers with English and so much more "Khadija Najlaoui’s first experience as a Unite rep will never leave her. Najlaoui was representing a migrant worker in London who was experiencing difficulties in his workplace..."

Homelessness is a “national crisis” and the Tories are “unacceptably complacent” about tackling it, a cross-party committee of MPs said today. A public accounts committee (PAC) report found there are more than 9,000 rough sleepers in England and around 78,000 families in temporary accommodation – including 120,000 children...

The policy was introduced while Theresa May was home secretary. Our branch supported the legal challenge and the questioning of the role of homelessness agencies where our members work in cooperating with the policy....

There's a housing policy battle going on inside the Labour Party. Jeremy Corbyn has made a clear commitment to council housing, but others are continuing the doublespeak of the Blair/Brown years. Vague noises about ‘affordable’ housing lack credibility. They also conceal an ideology that’s essentially pro-business...

The second Axe the Act (AtA) Housing Summit took place on the 25th November attended by around 150 activists from housing campaign groups, housing organisations, trade unions, and other labour movement organisations...

...Len McCluskey said, “Millions of households, who are struggling to make ends meet in the face of the biggest squeeze in living standards ever, will be left wondering where is this bright future the chancellor keeps going on about?..

Unite housing branch members will join a protest outside the Royal Courts on Justice on Tuesday November 21st in support of a Judicial Review of the Home Office’s policy of detaining and deporting homeless EU citizens...

In the immediate aftermath of the terrible fire at Grenfell Tower the government pledged that money would not prevent vital safety work being done. But since then they have set their face against paying for sprinklers - an essential measure according to the London Fire Brigade...

In our branch we have workers in the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), members on the Lancaster West estate whose lives have been turned upside down by the Grenfell fire and front line housing managers battling with the direct impact of austerity. We have only too much direct experience of the issues raised by Channel Four!..

A confidential survey of workers employed by Mears in Manchester and joint venture company Manchester Working (operated by Mears) has revealed very high levels of mental health problems and stress among its workforce...

"...Colleen’s colleagues – the vast majority of them men – said enough was enough. In the spirit of solidarity, they downed tools in support of their colleague so she could get the justice she deserved..."

Housing associations have booked record surpluses year after year, along with positive indicators in all the main areas of finance while squeezing their employees. This picture is confirmed by an authoritative new report...

Members of Unite employed by Mears in Manchester in housing maintenance roles will begin a programme of 49 days of strikes next week. Mears are a large contractor oppoerating outsourced services for social housing providers nationally...

An obscure letter from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) to the treasury signalling its intention to move £63.5bn of housing association debt back off the public sector balance sheet marks a further step to greater deregulation. In a letter to the Treasury sent on 31 August and published last week, the ONS said that after looking at draft regulations proposed by the government, it will provisionally reclassify housing associations as private bodies...

Following a recent employment appeal tribunal decision, workers whose shifts include a sleep over (while on duty) must be paid at least the minimum wage for the entire period they are at work. Previously most organisations argued that such shifts were not subject to national minimum wage legislation...

...A recent Guardian survey of housing workers showed that 40% of them feel their workloads are unmanageable. They also felt that the constant restructuring in the sector is badly managed and leads to greater stress. At Catalyst Unite reps have made the following appeal to management...

Mergers and restructurings are pushed through across the housing association sector, often with scant regard to the views of staff. Unite is pursuing a legal claim against Viridian Housing and Optivo on behalf of members who have not been properly consulted and informed...

Mears Manchester workers overwhelmingly back fresh industrial action in pay dispute - The 180 plus workers employed in housing maintenance work by Mears and Manchester Working have already taken over 40 days of strike action this year...

Following mounting pressure on prime minister Theresa May after repeated delays to the publication of a racial disparity report, it was announced this week (October 3) that the study will be out on Tuesday, October 10...

...Unite members employed in housing maintenance roles at Mears and at Manchester Working (a joint venture operated by Mears) have already taken 40 days of industrial action this summer in a dispute over pay differentials (up to £3,500 for workers doing the same role) and attacks on terms and conditions...

"...Speaking in support of a motion on the Grenfell Tower disaster, Unite delegate Jim Kelly paid tribute to all who were tragically killed in the fire, including the many trade union members, some of whom were members of Unite, who perished, and others still who are now traumatised by the blaze or not yet accounted for..."

...Workers in England and Wales covered by the agreement will receive an overall 8.4% increase on pay over the lifetime of the three-year pay deal. Workers will also receive two days additional holiday, increases in allowances which match increases in basic pay and a 20 per cent increase in sick pay....

Grenfell must be a turning point in housing - for staff and residents. Making social housing more commercial has eroded workers’ skills and knowhow. We still care about creating a better housing world, but do politicians?...

Huge rise in construction bogus self-employment demonstrates urgent need for radical employment reforms - Unite is calling for root and branch reforms of employment rights after new figures demonstrated bogus self-employment in construction is out of control. A Freedom of Information request by Unite has revealed that in 2016/17 at least 1.076 million construction workers were paid via the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS), an eight per cent increase on the figure of 12 months ago when 992,973 were paid via CIS. In total 47 per cent of the entire construction workforce is now paid via CIS.

The police’s investigation into possible corporate manslaughter charges relating to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, when an estimated 80 people died in the fire, was welcomed by Unite. Unite, which is representing about 30 families affected by the tragedy, said that ‘people have to be accountable for their decisions’ in the run-up and aftermath of June’s fire.
The police probe relating to corporate manslaughter centres on the actions of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (TMO)...

Tuesday 1st August Badge Day – collect a strike badge from the picket and wear to work! Wednesday 2nd August Picnic Day – join the picket line for a lunchtime picnic to show your support Thurday 3rd August – 1-2pm – Closing Rally at Bank of England...

When it comes to looking at a worker's working hours, there are two different sets of regulations. Firstly there are the Working Time Regulations which set out the rules regarding rest breaks, daily and weekly rest, maximum weekly working hours and, of course, minimum annual leave. Secondly there are the rules regarding National Minimum Wage (NMW) which deal with what constitutes 'work' and therefore attracts NMW. These two sets of regulations don't always match up, and this can cause confusion. Unite has prepared a briefing paper for its members – ‘Sleep In & Travel Time Cases’...

Pressure is growing on the private contractor Serco as hundreds of low paid workers at Barts Health NHS Trust prepare for a two week strike from Tuesday 25 July in their continuing fight against low pay...

Our hardworking reps quite often have to work unsociable hours, evenings and weekends, and any time off is therefore very precious. However, over 20 reps were prepared to give up a Saturday to come along to our first Leadership Forum on Saturday 15th July...

Catalyst housing association have introduced a harsh new sickness policy without bothering even to give the impression of consultation. Catalyst derecognised trade unions some time ago and appear determined to stamp on widespread staff concerns about unsustainably high workloads, bullying and poor management. This move marks a continuation of a worrying trend in which some housing associations have launched attacks on the pay and conditions of their staff. Is Sports Direct really a model for housing associations? Catalyst housing association have introduced a harsh new sickness policy without bothering even to give the impression of consultation. Catalyst derecognised trade unions some time ago and appear determined to stamp on widespread staff concerns about unsustainably high workloads, bullying and poor management. This move marks a continuation of a worrying trend in which some housing associations have launched attacks on the pay and conditions of their staff...

Unite, the UK’s largest construction union, announced today a dramatic escalation in strike action as part of a long running dispute with private contractor Mears and joint venture company Manchester Working (operated by Mears) over pay differentials and attacks on terms and conditions. The 170 plus housing maintenance workers employed by the two organisations will be striking continuously for four weeks from Saturday 8 July to Friday 4 August. Today’s announcement comes as workers take part in the eighteenth day of strike action of the dispute...

You know what it can be like at work – one person feels boiling hot, another is wearing their hat and scarf – the temperature is never exactly right. But in this current heatwave with the temperatures soaring into the 30s, it’s more important than usual that workers are in a comfortable environment...

Successive housing ministers failed to act on a 2013 report warning of the dangers of fire to high-rise blocks like Grenfell Tower – including Theresa May’s new chief of staff Gavin Barwell. The revelations came as the Prime Minister ordered a public inquiry into the blaze.

Unite, the UK’s largest construction union, is calling for a radical new approach to regulations and safety laws, following the Grenfell Tower fire. Unite has three key demands: an overhaul of building regulations, the end of attacks on existing regulations and the implementation of a licensing regime across the industry...

Numerous branch members attended Friday’s protests to express solidarity and we will be on Saturdays protest from midday at Kensington Town Hall. See our reports from the national Unite Live website and the £100,000 donation to the fire relief fund...

There has been a wave of sympathy and help for the victims of this fire. The housing workwers branch has produced a statement expressing sympathy and noting some of the troubling questions that arise - see the full statement here. We must help those directly affected now - at least two hundred are members of Unite - and ensure that no stone is left unurned to prevent this happening again. Unite has launched an appeal, see a letter from Len McCluskey below and details of local help points. As an intial step we have agreed a £200 donation...

Residents and housing workers have been shocked by the events in Kensington last night. Below is an initial statement expressing our sympathy and concern at the incident. The Unite housing workers branch sends solidarity to all affected by last night’s shocking fire at Grenfell Tower on the Lancaster West estate in London. We send our deepest sumpathy to the bereaved. We salute the courage of the fire-fighters, local residents and ambulance crews who responded with self sacrificing speed...

Standing shoulder to shoulder with residents help us as trade unionists to achieve more of what we want - better pay, better working conditions, and healthier environments. It's as simple as that! Details of the next HA Workers and Residents Network are available here and the flyer is available here.

Private housing contractor Mears and joint venture company Manchester Working, are accused of issuing ‘crazy car clamping’ threats to striking workers. Unite, the UK’s largest union, has said the threats have backfired and only increased the resolve of the workforce...

In the period leading up to Christmas 2015 Vela and Fabrick Housing groups were in the process of merging to become Thirteen Group and negotiations were taking place regarding group wide terms and conditions plus an annual pay rise. Included in the negotiations from the trade union side were Unite who were the largest union, Unison, UCATT & GMB...

Britain’s largest union, Unite warned of a continuing Tory ‘wage squeeze’ not seen since Victorian times as the latest figures out today (Wednesday 17 May), showed the retail price index measure of inflation running at 3.5%...

...Mears is seeking to introduce a new contract that requires workers to have greater flexibility in shift working, work longer hours, weekend working and requires a greater use of technology, without any real increase in pay...

Clarion housing has offered staff an increase of 2.5% on basic pay rates. Inflation is currently running at 3.1% measured by the Retail Price Index (RPI) and all analysts project inflation to rise this year so the offer represents a real terms pay cut. Unite reps are recommending staff to reject this offer in any consultation. Unite continues to call for 4% increases in the sector, this figure was overwhelmingly agreed by Unite members in Clarion...

Family Mosaic has announced that in response to the pressures resulting from low pay they will “offer our staff the services we previously provided exclusively to our tenants.” What about a 4% pay increase?...

All members are being encouraged to put in their pay claims at a minimum of 4% for all workers. Our campaign page has a wealth of resources including a draft pay claim, pay survey, bargaining brief with key facts and figures and posters.

The number of new rough sleepers in London has risen by a shocking 15%; new figures from CHAIN (Combined Homelessness Information Network) for January to March show an overall increase of 7% on previous years and record a disturbing 1,370 first time rough sleepers. Overall, rough sleeping in England has risen by 16% in the last year and has more than doubled in the last five. Our branch members working with rough sleepers delivering homelessness services report that they are increasingly hard pressed...

Housing associations have been guilty of 'serial neglect of residents and properties' according to the Guardian. It highlighted allegations against the likes of Catalyst, Sanctuary, Notting Hill Housing, and One Housing Group.

In November 2014, as part of the protests against the privatisation of water in Ireland, an impromptu sit-down protest stopped the car of a minister and her entourage. Now, those protesters are charged with kidnapping, a charge that could result in prison sentences and removal from political office...

The headline inflation figure jumped to 2.3% in February. Figures released today show that inflation has risen by much more than expected; the main drivers of the rise (from 1.8% in January) were food and fuel prices, but ‘core inflation’, an indicator that strips out volatile food and energy prices, also jumped more than predicted...

‘Sickies’ down – but do figures belie real illness. Fear for their jobs has prompted British workers to take the fewest number of sick days since records began – only 137m working days last year were lost to sickness, equivalent to just over four days per worker...

New group to pay sick pay from day one - Stung by accusations that the newly created Clarion Housing Group was becoming the Sports Direct of housing associations they have this morning told staff that: “...staff who are eligible to receive occupational sick pay will